Gazpacho have come quite far in less than a year. Having had over 50,000 hits on their site, 25000 downloads, been top 3 on mp3.com with the songs Bravo, Nemo, Sea of Tranquility and Ghost. Having only entered 3 times, gazpacho were 3 times finalist and twice champions on makeastar.com, received rave reviews in over 50 sites throughout the world, and airplay on college raidos throughout the globe. Their popularity now takes them into a new horizon. They have been booked as support act for Marillion in March, and are scheduled to perform in venues throughout Europe this summer. The story continues, but it is important to pinpoint that they've done all this by themselves, no promoters, managers or record label backing. Question is, how far would this band go with partners in the process?
Several years of sheer hard work and writing collectively in their Norwegian hometown Oslo have earned Gazpacho their unique sound. Like their namesake (the cold Spanish soup), they surprise with an eclectic range of ingredients. Gazpacho - guitarist Jon A. Vilbo, keyboard player Thomas Andersen, bassist Roy Funner and singer Jan H. (a.k.a "O") - are devoted to their work, without pandering to any trend or fashion destined to become superfluous before the year is out. But their commercial potential is undeniable on "Get It While It's Cold (37ºC)", the band's debut EP. In their music, you feel that same "you're not gonna mess with me" attitude you hear upon first playing Radiohead's "OK Computer"; or the first time Stravinsky's "The Rite Of Spring" accosts your ears.
Bravo is their first full scale album. A fluid of inspiration and energy from all directions. Each song has a story to tell and some reviewers have tried to paint a picture:
Novgorod - Proves that the internet is a wonderful thing. This track was written and produced across 3 continents. Esther Valentine (worked with amongst others, David Kershenbaum (prod., Tracy Chapman), Paul Buckmaster (arr., Elton John), and Richard Burgess (keyboard prog., Kate Bush), and has numerous CD (platinum), film and television credits.) from California and Peter Kearns from New Zealand teamed up with gazpacho to write this atmospheric song, but they've actually never met face to face.
Ease your mind - First time co-production with Peter Kearns (Since the eighties he has written and recorded with various Australasian acts and for a year or twocollaborated with legendary American record producer Kim Fowley. He has also worked as keyboard sideman to such New Zealand acts as Shona Laing (ex Manfred Mann's Earthband) and Dave Dobbyn).
Mesmer (Gods Of Music - USA) "A bold stroke of art-rock madness.. Inspiration can reside in the strangest of places. The back seat of a cab. The ticket stub of a concert you attended when you were 15. And sometimes, as Oslo natives Gazpacho discovered, your own back yard. The ambient Norwegian group's latest release, 'Mesmer', has been heavily inspired by Edvard Munch's 'Dance of Life'.
Bravo (DPRP - HOLLAND) "It starts very moody, with a heavy drum computer rhythm that contains surprisingly light tinkles and castanets. The imaginative lyrics and the great singing already lift this song well above average, but it is a fantastic - and unexpected - irish folkish violin solo towards the end that make this song a true gem."
The Secret (Misfit city - UK)- "A wall of ominous grunge creeps through the introduction of "The Secret", leading to Tori Amos-like warning shades. The brilliantly arranged bridge section transports us to a black-and-white age of horror where the screams of actresses are spelt out upon the screen."
Sea of Tranquility (Rainsound - USA) - Winner of Makeastar.com this "has an esoteric, dramatic crescendo of Yorke-ish circa Pablo Honey intensity, with frontman 'O' feeling pretty at ease amidst acoustic guitars and synth keyboards: honestly memorable."
California (Starpolish.com - USA) - "Gazpacho -- a great band name, for starters -- is truly unique in today's market, being a song-based pop band with serious late 70's rock influences. I just love stuff like this."
Ghost (Makeastar.com - USA) - "An interesting blend of elements carefully assembled to create an ambient mixture sounds not unlike that of the late Jeff Buckley, and the newer British groups Travis, Cold play etc. Yet very original in concept, form, and arrangement. Nothing unusual in the instrumentation, yet you've managed to create your own sound. That's what it's all about".
Nemo (Splendid ezine - USA) - Makeastar.com winner as well "Gazpacho seems to have the innate ability to place an instrument in a certain part of the song to achieve a desired mood without bashing you over the head with it."
Sun God (Sefronia - FRANCE) - Le refrain de "Sun God", à la fois lumineux et ténébreux, résonne comme un appel désespéré, une fuite en avant vers une chute programmée et sans alternative dans un puits sans fond.
Desert (loll music - JAPAN) - Gazpacho might not be categorized as merely pop rock or melodic rock. It is hard to pinpoint what they sound like, simply they make emotional melodic symphonic catchy rock without cliche of all rock
'Feeling' is an important element of Gazpacho's songs and this is most evident from the outset.
We hope you will feel it to.
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